The article does, however, make good on the headline by reporting that the American Wind Energy Association clearly states that wind power is competitive in the current marketplace andthat the Association continues to work for “a strong federal energy policy [to drive] the deployment of renewable energy technologies” and “defending and improving on state renewable” power mandates.

Ed, I wouldn’t say that the comparisons are meaningless, you just need to be aware of just exactly what you are getting for the money. But I don’t blame Bode for turning off her BS detector. It would be impossible to get any work done at all in Washington DC with a functioning BS detector. The thing would be clanging all the time.

Tom, obviously not surprising that a Washington, DC, based trade association is seeking tax/subsidy/benefits for its members. In this respect the AWEA is not so different from any group from the National Mining Association to the Motion Picture Association of America. But a simultaneous assertion that says, in effect, “finally, we can stand on our own two feet” and “we won’t be able to continue to build without continued significant subsidies.”

It is certainly an awareness of the conditions placed on “what you are getting for the money” that gives meaning to the comparisons. Bode is quite facile in assuming that her audience is aware of the conditional nature of the comparisons, or that they would find those conditions unimportant.